SEEA as a framework for
assessing policy responses to
climate change
Prepared for the UNCEEA meeting
Sjoerd Schenau and Mark de Haan
Statistics Netherlands
Content
•
•
•
•
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Climate change and the economy
Climate change policy issues and SEEA
SEEA applications for mitigation
SEEA applications for adaptation
Conclusions
the DPSIR framework
Increased production, transportation
Increased demand for energy etc.
Greenhouse gas
emissions
GHG
concentrations
Climate
variables etc.
Mitigation
Adaptation
On agriculture, water supply, health sector etc.
Climate change policies issues
and SEEA
1. To what extent is human induced climate
change actually taking place ?
Can SEEA be used ?  NO !
2. What actions need to be taken to reduce the
emissions of greenhouse gasses ?
Can SEEA be used  Yes !
3. What actions need to be taken to deal with the
consequences of global warming and minimize
the impacts ?
Can SEEA be used  Yes !
Climate change in Volume III of SEEA
• One of the central issues in Volume III
• Focus on applications for mitigation and
adaptation policies
• Examples of answers to direct policy
questions
SEEA applications for mitigation
policies
• Understanding the drivers of climate change
• Monitoring and analysis energy saving and
renewable energy
• Monitoring policy instruments for mitigation
• Determination and analysis of costs and benefits
of mitigation policies
Are the production induced GHG emissions
decoupling with respect to economic growth ?
160
Index 1990=100
140
120
100
80
60
GDP
Greenhouse gasses
CO2
CH4
N2O
2008
2005
2000
1995
1990
40
How can the change in GHG emissions over
time be explained ?
Mton CO 2
80
60
40
20
0
-20
-40
-60
1990
1995
2000
Emission intensity
Energy intensity
Economic growth
CO2 emissions
2005
Economic structure
2008
What is the national carbon footprint ?
Total
GHGs
CO2
CH4
N2O
Mton CO2-equivalenten
1. Emissions attributed to import
227
157
53
18
2. Emissions attributed to export
181
147
12
21
- 47
- 10
- 42
3
4. Net emissions by residents
236
201
17
16
5. Environmental consumption
(national carbon footprint) = 4-3
283
212
59
13
3. The environmental balance of
trade = 2-1
GHG balance of trade (2007)
What is the share of renewable energy in the
total energy consumption ?
3,5
%
3
2,5
2
1,5
1
0,5
Wind
Solar
Biomass
Other
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
0
Taxes on energy and transport: to what extent
does the ‘polluter pay principle’ apply ?
100%
90%
80%
70%
Households
60%
Other services
50%
Transport
Manufectering and construction
40%
Agriculture
30%
20%
10%
0%
Total energy and transport tax
Greenhouse gas emissions
How much are mitigating activities contributing
to economic growth ?
mln euro
%
3000
0,60
2500
0,50
2000
0,40
1500
0,30
1000
0,20
500
0,10
0
0,00
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006* 2007*
Value added
Percentage of GDP
SEEA applications for adaptation
policies
• Assessing the impacts of climate change
• Monitoring and analysis of policy instruments for
adaptation
• Determination and analysis of costs and benefits
of adaptation policies
What is the potential economic impact of a sea
level rise ?
How much does a government spend on
climate change adaptation measures ?
Expenditures on the maintenance of dikes and seawalls
Conclusions
• The SEEA, together with the SNA and related satellite
accounts, has the potential to bring together in one
consistent analytical framework all relevant information
with regard to the relationships between the economy and
climate change, that can be used for climate change
assessment, policy and decision making.
• SEEA as an integrated framework is particularly suitable to
asses the policy responses to climate change. It provides all
the essential information to monitor, understand and
analyse the relation between the economy and climate
change essential for developing both mitigation and
adaptation strategies.